Site manager: what he does, how to become one and how much he earns

The site manager is the professional who plans, coordinates and monitors activities at construction sites.

This is a key figure in construction, as it ensures that the work team completes the project on time and on budget.

But how does one become a site manager, and what are the skills one needs to possess?

What does the site manager do

The site manager (or site manager) works on construction sites as a project manager: thus, he or she ensures that work is completed according to the client’s specifications, on budget and on time. As a rule, he is also the person in charge of worker safety and is responsible for assigning tasks to each figure.

The work of the site manager may include:

• supervision of the project to ensure that teams complete it according to the client’s needs;
• comparison with the surveyor or architect to keep track of costs;
• The supervision and coordination of construction workers;
• The identification of solutions for problems that may occur on the construction site;
• The performance of regular safety inspections;
• The purchase of materials for each phase of the project;
• The monitoring of construction costs and construction progress;
• The application for permits and licenses for construction projects;
• The negotiation of contracts with clients;
• The hiring of workers and subcontractors.

The site manager, regardless of the size and type of the project, is therefore the person in charge of the site and the point of reference for the client and the designer, as he or she must ensure that the work is carried out as planned from the opening of the site until its closure. Therefore, he must have a thorough knowledge of the technical, administrative and organizational aspects involved in construction work.

How to become a site manager

To become a Site Manager, you must have a Surveyor’s degree, preferably followed by a degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering or Construction Engineering. What counts-beyond knowledge of city planning, mathematics, technical regulations, safety and procurement, however, is experience in the field.

Most site managers begin their careers in the construction industry in junior roles, eventually making their way to site management after several years of experience and numerous projects behind them.

Among the
Soft Skills
most useful for site leadership include:

• communication skills: site managers work with a variety of construction professionals, including designers, laborers, and surveyors, and must communicate with each of them. In addition, they are in constant contact with the customer, with whom they must show excellent listening skills;
• problem-solving skills: a construction project involves several risks, which is why site managers must use critical thinking and find innovative and cost-effective solutions;
• decision-making skills: the site manager is required to make several decisions every day, weighing the pros and cons;
• economic knowledge: a large part of a site manager’s job is to ensure that the team completes the project in the most cost-effective manner;
• leadership and the ability to motivate others: the ability to effectively lead all workers, motivating them to do their work to the best of their ability, is among the main gifts of a Site Manager;
• attention to detail, as it allows risks to be identified before they become problems.

The salary of a site manager, in Italy, is about €22,000 per year. However, as experience increases, up to 40,000 can be earned.

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